Art of Listening, Summer 2013

 

Catalog:                                MUSC 101-101, Music: Art of Listening

Meeting:                                Tu Th: 8:30 AM - 12:40 PM

Instructor:                             Anthony Molinaro (amolinaro@luc.edu)

 

 

Textbooks and Class Resources

 

Experience Music, third edition (Katherine Charlton) *** Includes three CDs

 

This course will utilize Sakai. Assignments, announcements, grades, online links and more will routinely be posted, but students should not expect Sakai to be a suitable replacement for class attendance.

 

The online radio station Grooveshark and YouTube will be used extensively.

 

 

Course Description

 

Art of Listening will focus on the acquisition and enhancement of listening skills through direct experience of musical works along with an examination of cross-cultural similarities and differences among musical styles. Various genres of music will be studied including: Classical, Jazz, World and Popular Music. There will also be a section on Italian artists and composers. Students must attend four concerts and - though there are many free concerts in Rome during the summer - students may have to purchase tickets for a few events (please reserve approximately €30 total for concerts). At least a couple concerts will be organized class trips.

 

Knowledge Area: Artistic Expression and Experience

 

 

Area learning outcome: The study of art fosters a search for truth and a respect for the human person. Artistic expression and knowledge in the core curriculum encourages students to develop critical habits of the mind and ethical standards of behavior in their preparation for life. The core curriculum provides students with the opportunity to engage in the arts, through creative processes as well as through formal study; and to explore non-linear modes of thinking, problem-solving and expression.

 

 

Specific course outcome: A cultivation of musical perception through a process of repeated and guided listenings; strengthening of listening skills while developing and expanding styles perspectives.

Grading

 

A = 100-93; A- = 92-90; B+ = 89-87; B = 86-83; B- 82-80; C+ = 79-77; C = 76-73; C- = 72-70; D = 69-60; F = Below 59

 

Graded components of Art of Listening:

 

•  Final Examination (500)

•  Midterm Examination (300)

•  Paper (300)

•  Four Listening Quizzes: 50 points each (200)

•  Concert Attendance: 50 points each (200)

 

Total Points = 1,500

 

Paper (300)

 

Topics for consideration will grow from in-class discussions and will be announced no later than July 16. Further details will be provided at that time, but papers should be 3-5 pages in length (800 word minimum) and must be submitted to Turnitin by July 24.

 

Four Listening Quizzes (200)

 

A 50 point quiz will be given every class beginning on July 9 (except for July 16, which is the midterm exam). The quizzes will focus on the identification of musical works studied in class, but may also include a few questions from assigned readings and class discussions. The quizzes will take place at the beginning of class and are very short. Four of them will count toward your overall grade (the lowest grade will be dropped). The listening material will be highlighted on the “listening table” and posted on Sakai.

 

Concert Attendance (200)

 

Students must attend four concerts. There are endless concerts in Rome in July and a host of possibilities will be provided for you at the beginning of the session. We will turn at least a couple of these into class trips where we will go out to dinner first and perhaps explore different parts of the city in addition to the concert.

 

Attendance and Participation

 

Attendance and participation are crucial elements to making the class a meaningful and dynamic experience. Students with more than one unexcused absence will have their final grade lowered by 5 percentage points. Each additional absence will incur an additional 5 percentage point penalty. Class participation will factor into your grade.

 

Disclaimer and Academic Integrity

 

The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus if circumstances warrant. Students will be notified of any changes in a timely manner. Students are also responsible for reading and abiding by the University's statement on academic integrity. It is posted at: http://www.luc.edu/academics/catalog/ undergrad/reg_academicintegrity.shtml

 

*** Note: Students will receive a zero on any assignment, project or exam on which they are found to be in deliberate violation of the University’s policy on Academic Integrity. Please read it carefully.

 

Cell Phones and Computers

 

Please refrain from using cell phones, ipads, laptop computers, or similar devices during class. Texting will not be tolerated during class.

 

 

Course Outline

 

 

 

Week 1

 

July 2 - Course introduction; Chapter 1: Elements of Music: Sound, Rhythm, Melody, and Harmony (pg.

4-11); Chapter 2: Elements That Structure Music: Key, Texture, and Form (pg. 12-16); Chapter 3: Musical

Instruments and Ensembles (pg. 17-27).

 

July 4 - Prelude: The Triumph of Baroque Style (pg. 62-64); Chapter 7: Cantata (pg. 74-80); Chapter 8: Oratorio (pg. 81-89); Johann Sebastien Bach (1685-1750) - “Wachet auf” (“Sleepers Awake”); George Friederic Handel (1685-1759) - “Hallelujah” from Messiah. Chapter 9: Baroque Solo and Chamber Music (pg. 90-98); J.S. Bach - “The Little Fugue in G Minor;” J.S. Bach - Cello Suite No. I in G Major, Prelude; J.S. Bach - Air “On The G-String.” Chapter 10: The Baroque Orchestra (pg. 99-109); Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) - “Spring” from The Four Seasons; MusiCurious: Attending a Concert.

 

Week 2

 

July 9 - Quiz #1; Prelude: The Classical Era: Reason and Revolution (pg. 110-113); Chapter 11: The Classical Symphony (pages 114-125); Chapter 14: Classical Vocal Music (pg. 140-148); Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) - Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, Movement I; “Non più andrai” from The Marriage of Figaro. Amadeus Movie.

 

July 11 - Quiz #2; Chapter 15: The Music of Beethoven (pg. 149-161); Beethoven (1770-1827) - Symphony No. 9, Movement IV, (“Ode to Joy”); Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Movement I; Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2, Movement I (“Moonlight”).

 

Week 3

 

July 16 - Midterm Exam; Prelude: American Innovations in the Arts (pg. 274-278); Chapter 31: Early Jazz Styles (pg. 288-299); MusiCurious: Improvisation (pg. 292).  Chapter 32: Developments in Jazz in the Late Twentieth Century (pg. 300-306); Miles Davis, Kind of Blue (album); Miles Davis, Bitches Brew (album).

 

July 18 - Quiz #3; Excerpts from Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns. To include episode 9 “The Adventure”

1956-1961.  Chapter 33: American Classical Music influenced by Early Jazz (pg. 307-313); George

Gershwin (1898-1937) - Rhapsody in Blue. Italian Jazz Musicians and Composers TBA.

 

Week 4

 

July 23 - Quiz #4; Prelude: Music of The Romantic Era (pg. 162-165); Chapter 17: Romantic Piano Music (pg. 176-181). Frédéric Chopin (1811-1886) - Nocturne, Op. 9, No. 2; Chapter 26: Impressionism and Symbolism (pg. 247-252); Claude Debussy (1862-1918) - Claire De Lune. Chapter 27: Primitivism and Neoclassicism (pg. 253-260); Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) - The Right of Spring.

 

July 25 - Contemporary Masters: Stevie Wonder (LIVE DVD); Ray Charles; Esperanza Spalding; Cesaria

Evora; Paco de Lucía; Richard Bona; Tito Puente and Review.

 

July 26 - Final Exam.

Listening Table

 

The listening table below will be posted on Sakai and updated as needed. It will allow you to easily find the music that we discuss in class. Works that you will need to be able to identify for quizzes and exams will be highlighted. Links are provided for YouTube videos.

 

Composer / Artist	Title of Piece	Experience Music	YouTube & Grooveshark
J.S. Bach	The Little Fugue in G Minor	CD 1 Track 7
J.S. Bach	Air “On The G-String”		Grooveshark
J.S. Bach	Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, Mvt. I		Grooveshark
Antonio Vivaldi	“Spring” from The Four Seasons	CD 1 Track 8
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, Mvt. I	CD 1 Track 13
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart	“Non piu andrai” from The Marriage of Figaro	CD 1 Track 37
Ludvig Van Beethoven	Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Mvt. I	CD 1 Track 38
Ludvig Van Beethoven	Symphony No. 9, Mvt. IV “Ode to Joy”		You Tube (1) You Tube (2) You Tube (3)
Ludvig Van Beethoven	“Moonlight” Piano Sonata, Mvt. I		Grooveshark
Ludvig Van Beethoven	Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor,” Mvt. II		Grooveshark
George Gershwin	Rhapsody in Blue		Grooveshark
Frederic Chopin	Nocturne, Op. 9, No. 2	CD 1 Track 45
Hector Berlioz	Symphonie Fantastique, “Dream of a Witches’ Sabath”	CD 2 Track 1
Igor Stravinsky	The Rite of Spring	CD 3 Tracks 7-8
Maria Callas	Selections TBA (Opera)		Grooveshark
Bessie Smith	Lost Your Head Blues	CD 3 Track 12
Miles Davis	All Blues (Kind of Blue)		Grooveshark
Miles Davis	Miles Runs the Voodoo Down	CD 3 Track 18
Leonard Bernstein	America from West Side Story	CD 3 Track 30
Radiohead	15 Step		Grooveshark
James Brown	It’s A Man’s World		Grooveshark